All I Really Need to Know About Engineering, I Learned From Star Trek

Rather than backing down when faced with the unknown, engineers must be willing to take on the challenge of revealing the things that are temporarily hidden, and understanding the things that are temporarily not understood. A good engineering education provides us with the principles to make sound decisions. Testing, analysis, and simulation provide us with the tools to fill in the blanks in our knowledge.

Logic is necessary, but not sufficientThe character Spock comes from a planet where logic is revered above all else. His cool and rational approach to problems makes him a popular character among engineers. Yet, in many episodes, Spock finds that this approach is not sufficient to solve certain problems. He needs to consider the emotional, human element of the situation in order to arrive at a successful solution.

Similarly, in engineering, you will find that the problems you are called on to solve are not just mechanical or electrical in nature. They are human problems. In order to solve these problems, you need to understand not only how forces balance in a structure or how electrons flow in a circuit, but how organizations function, how people make decisions, and how individuals act and interact with one another. This doesn’t excuse you in the slightest from having to master the technical details. An engineer whose technical understanding is unsurpassed may still be unsuccessful if he or she doesn’t also learn to master the human element.

Don't believe in the no-win scenario
In the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, we learn about the Kobiyashi Maru, a test that all Starfleet cadets are required to take. This test presents cadets with an unwinnable scenario, in order to assess their psychological response to failure. We also learn that Kirk’s response to this scenario was to reprogram the test so that it was possible to win.

Like Kirk, when faced with an impossible task, good engineers don’t give up. Instead, they change the conditions until the task becomes possible. This attitude is what has enabled humanity to build tall buildings, to fly, and to go to the moon. Hopefully, one day, this attitude will allow us to travel between the stars.

Dave--very interesting. Star Trek was "THE" program for future engineers when I was growing up and going through school. We knew that with the proper educational background, work ethic and resourcefulness, any problem could be solved. As you mentioned, all of this was created with individuals of varying ethnic backgrounds. This is one thing Gene Roddenberry demanded from the scripts--diversity. I also enjoyed the fact that he used individuals with differing skill sets in contributing to solutions. They all worked together. (Wonder if any members of Congress ever watched the program.)

Of course; now I really want to watch your video! And while the link successfully loaded a BIS page, the video stated, "Invalid Source" and does not execute. Maybe we're on opposite sides of a firewall.

I was asked to do a department video by a former employer. They had asked for it to be based on "The Trouble With Tribbles" (obviously unaware of the derogatory adapted quotes that leapt to everyone mind who had actually seen the episode) so we talked them into "A Taste of Armeggedon" with a splash of "The Voyage Home" (aka "Star Trek: Save the Whales"), we had an old DPS-7 that had to be replaced. They also wanted us to show everyone in the department and keep the video under 5 minutes. Other departments made videos, but ours was the only one to come in under 5 minutes. The next year they asked me to edit all the department videos. This had been my first one, the link is to my 12th anniversary version I recut on my home computer instead of the tape to tape version of the original, which allowed me to add overlays.

That is right. Forgot about that. Guess I need to watch these again. It has been a while and this article has me thinking it is time for a Star Trek marathon! Get up Saturday morning and watch all the Star Trek movies. The first one is horrible, but it just wouldn't seem fair to skip this one.

Industrial workplaces are governed by OSHA rules, but this isn’t to say that rules are always followed. While injuries happen on production floors for a variety of reasons, of the top 10 OSHA rules that are most often ignored in industrial settings, two directly involve machine design: lockout/tagout procedures (LO/TO) and machine guarding.

Load dump occurs when a discharged battery is disconnected while the alternator is generating current and other loads remain on the alternator circuit. If left alone, the electrical spikes and transients will be transmitted along the power line, leading to malfunctions in individual electronics/sensors or permanent damage to the vehicle’s electronic system. Bottom line: An uncontrolled load dump threatens the overall safety and reliability of the vehicle.

While many larger companies are still reluctant to rely on wireless networks to transmit important information in industrial settings, there is an increasing acceptance rate of the newer, more robust wireless options that are now available.

To those who have not stepped into additive manufacturing, get involved as soon as possible. This is for the benefit of your company. When the new innovations come out, you want to be ready to take advantage of them immediately, and that takes knowledge.

Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.